FAQs

Where do these Pugs come from?We rescue from the shelters and also from private homes. Our rescue Pugs are turned in for many, many reasons. Some are abused or neglected, but most are from loving homes that can no longer take care of their pet. We have had owners go into nursing homes, pass away, move out of town, divorce...all kinds of reasons. Sometimes we have no history on the animal, as often they are lost and picked up by Animal Control, but are never claimed by their owners.

More than half of our rescue Pugs are turned in by families of toddlers. It seems that a couple will treat the Pug as their baby, but then when they have a real baby and the Pug shows signs of jealousy such as peeing on toys, etc, they no longer want to keep the dog. Most toddlers are unable to resist the temptation of pulling on the adorable tail or poking at the protruding eyes, and that is a recipe for disaster!

We receive another large percentage of our Pugs from single college students that live in an apartment. They may have a job, a significant other, and school work, and are rarely home enough to housetrain a Pug and give it the attention it deserves. Most will have purchased a Pug on impulse while shopping at the mall and grow to understand that they do not have the free time a little Pug demands.

Why are so many strays not claimed by their owners at the shelters?Many people falsely believe that their missing Pug was stolen. Although it is true that dogs can be stolen from yards, in many cases this is not what happens. A Pug may wander just a few doors down and be taken in by a neighbor. If no "Lost Dog" signs are posted in the neighborhood, the Pug may be taken to the shelter. An owner that believes his Pug is stolen usually will not place a "Lost Dog" ad in the paper or check the shelters. After three days at the shelter, the dog is available for adoption.

Do these Pugs have "papers"?Most people mistakenly think that "having papers" (breed registration) means that a dog comes from a good background. Papers only mean that both parents are Pugs, nothing more. Pet shop (puppy mill) dogs have papers and yet they are the unhealthiest dogs in the world! Papers do not guarantee that a Pug will be free from genetic disease. If a Pug is turned in to our rescue with papers, we throw them away. There is no need to pass them along once a Pug is spayed or neutered.

Why do you spay and neuter?Every dog that comes through our rescue is spayed or neutered. There are too many homeless dogs and not enough good homes. A rescue dog should never be bred because there is no genetic history or family lineage to guarantee a healthy litter. Spaying and neutering also decreases the chance of many types of common cancers (mammary tumors and prostate cancer) and lessens behavioral problems.

Are you also a Pug Breeder? Can you recommend a breeder?No, we have never bred Pugs. Responsible breeding is carried out by “hobby breeders” that compete their dogs in dog shows and aim for quality, not profit. They follow the history of many generations of healthy, quality Pugs and breed to follow AKC standards. If you are very certain that a rescue Pug is not for you and you are set on purchasing a puppy, we recommend you contact a local breed club who can refer you to a good breeder. Please do not patronize pet stores or backyard breeders who place ads in the classifieds section of the newspaper. We have seen more than our share of unhealthy Pugs from these sources.

If you have purchased a Pug from a pet store, check out your Pug's registration papers. If your pet shop Pug came from the states of IL, MO, AR, KS, then you can be 99% sure that you have a puppy mill Pug. Please talk to your vet about checking for potential health problems.

Do you ever have Pug Puppies?We rarely receive puppies. The average age of our rescues are 2 - 10 years old. Often we receive Pugs that are over 10 years old.

What are your adoption fees?Every Pug that comes through our rescue is vet-checked, spayed or neutered, and current on all vaccinations. To get a rescue Pug ready for adoption, we generally spend much more on veterinary expenses than the price of the adoption fee. Due to the number of Pugs with medical needs that come through our rescue, we have been forced to raise our adoption fees. We are an all-volunteer organization, so every penny of the adoption fee is used to pay vet bills.

How can I adopt?Start by completing an online application. Please take the time to provide as much information as possible. There are just a few of us that review the adoption requests so we are usually a bit behind on applications. Due to time restraints, we are forced to discard incomplete requests. We also discard applications after 6 months on file, so if you have not heard from us, please try again!

I live out of state, can I still adopt a Pug from your rescue?Sorry, we only adopt in the Southern Nevada area. We do require a home visit prior to adoption, so driving long distances to do so is not possible. Please check our links page for a Pug Rescue in your area.

I am coming to Las Vegas on vacation and want to adopt...Is this possible?No, it isn’t. The major reason is that we are unable to do a home visit if you are vacationing. We need to meet the other members of the household and see how the Pug will get along with your other pets. Also keep in mind that Pugs cannot fly in cargo. Please visit our Pug Rescue Links page and see if you can find a rescue closer to your area.

Why do you require a home visit? What are you looking for?We want to make sure that the Pug is placed in a safe environment. We will check for a fenced backyard, locked gates, and fenced swimming pools. We are not inspecting your home, judging your furniture, or checking for dirty dishes in the sink. We simply want to meet the family members, other pets, and find the right environment for our rescue Pugs.

Why do you need a Vet referral? What questions will you ask my Vet?We will ask your vet if you are a regular client. We will check on the vaccination history of your current pets, and we will verify that your current pets are spayed or neutered. We will also ask for a listing of previous pets. We are not being nosy, we are checking the accuracy of your application. We do understand that in many families, situations arise when a pet had to be given up. Sadly, we often learn that an applicant has been through several "trendy" pets. Owning a Saint Bernard when "Beethovan" was popular, a Dalmatian when "101 Dalmatians" was released, a Chihuahua when the Taco Bell commercials were a big hit (and where are those dogs now?) that is a great concern to us! We know how popular Pugs have become ever since “Men In Black” was released, but popularity of a breed is not always a positive thing. We are simply looking for a responsible pet owner who is in this for the long haul.

I applied a long time ago and haven't heard back from you. Does this mean I wasn't approved to adopt? Should I apply again?If it has been several months or longer since you submitted your application, please drop us a note to let us know you are still interested. Unfortunately, we are not able to respond to every applicant. We generally don't call if the application is more than 6 months old unless we have heard back from you.

I would like to adopt a housetrained pug...Is a rescue Pug guaranteed to be housebroken?No, we are unable to guarantee housetraining. We will be honest about the Pug's progress in this area. Once the Pug has learned the doggie door at our foster homes, we usually will look for a home with a doggie door. To place the Pug in a home without a doggie door may cause confusion and create a housetraining problem. Any Pug can be housetrained with a bit of effort. We look for families that are willing to work through this issue.

I live in a condo or apartment, so I am unable to install a doggie door. Does this mean that I will be unable to adopt?No, we have placed many Pugs in condos and apartments. It depends on several things: the number of hours the Pug would be alone, the age of the Pug (usually older Pugs do just fine in an apartment), and the history of that Pug. We are less likely to place a Pug in an apartment if the applicant works long hours, or the Pug is young (a little Pug bladder can only hold it for so long).

Why do you ask so many questions?Young or old, these rescue Pugs are our babies. Some have led a rough life, while others came from good, loving homes. Either way, the transition to a new home is always hard on a pet, and we attempt to make it as smooth as possible. We are looking for a FOREVER home for these dogs. If we know the history of the Pug, we will attempt to match the adopting family to the needs of that Pug. Some Pugs have been doggie door trained, and have no housetraining issues. If we place that Pug in a home without a doggie door, that would create more stress on the Pug and the new owner. Other Pugs, especially adult and senior Pugs, would do just fine in an apartment or condo. Some are extremely shy and docile, and would be happiest in a home with no other pets, while others need a playmate or two to keep them busy. Some would love to have children in the house to play with, while others just need a sofa and a people bed to cuddle in. Many would just snooze while you are at work all day, while others would cry and whine at the door until you return. There are as many different Pug personalities as there are people personalities...we are just trying to make a match.

Adopting a Pug is a long-term commitment. A rescue Pug deserves an extra-special somebody. Please take the time to answer the adoption questions completely and be certain before you do so that a rescue Pug is right for you!Congratulations!You have made it through the information page. You can see by the FAQs that we are 100% committed to finding the best possible homes for the rescue Pugs of Southern Nevada. If you are 100% committed to the idea of loving and training a rescue Pug for life, please fill out an online application.